Quarterback Devin Ray has led Bernards to a 9-0 record, and with a win over Delaware Valley Bernards will break the school record for wins in a season.Alli Delgrippo

A week from Saturday, Bernards High will take on Madison, No. 15 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, in a highly anticipated playoff showdown.

But first, the Bernardsville school has to defend its home field one last time.

Bernards doesn’t have as rich a football tradition as many of its counterparts in the Mid-State 38 Conference, but it can achieve quite a significant bit of history on Thursday night when it plays host to Delaware Valley at 7 p.m. in the second holiday meeting between the two schools.

With a victory, the Mountaineers will improve to 10-0 and set the school record for wins in a single season. And the fact they can do it in the friendly confines of Olcott Field, which has become one of the more vibrant atmospheres in the area as Bernards has gone 16-3 over the last two seasons, makes the opportunity even more significant to the program.

“This beautiful environment, these fans, the cameras, this wasn’t here before you,” Bernards coach Jon Simoneau told his team, in particular his 12 seniors, after its thrilling, come-from-behind victory over Lenape Valley in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 first round. “You built this…you are a great football team. You are a special football team. That will never change. We get one more spin in this kingdom.”

That spin comes against a Delaware Valley team that is looking to end its season on a high note after a tough 34-22 home loss to Shabazz in the Central Jersey, Group 2 first round last Friday night. The Alexandria school is 6-3 and boasts one of the most prolific rushing games in the state.

Delaware Valley has rushed for 2,855 yards as a team this fall. Halfback Dionisio Roman has accounted for 1,671 of those yards, scoring 19 touchdowns in the process. Sean Hogan and Andrew Cooper have also had strong campaigns running the ball for the Terriers, who average a hair under 34 points per game.

But Bernards has an equally explosive offense of its own. Averaging 41.3 points per game, the Bernardsville school is led by quarterback Devin Ray, who has thrown for 1,629 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 353 yards and eight scores, halfback Jon Diamond (12 total touchdowns) and standout receiver John Maddaluna, who has 40 catches for 997 yards and 14 touchdowns, as well as 589 rushing yards and eight rushing scores and two return touchdowns.

This is the second-ever holiday meeting between the two schools. Delaware Valley leads
the all-time overall series, 6-0.